Heaven on Earth: A 3-Day Tour of Dali's Cangshan Mountain

**🕐️ DAY 1: Beginner's Hike · Ximatan & Jade Belt Cloud Trail** **Morning** ✅ **8:00 Ximatan Cableway** - Ride Asia's steepest cableway (¥310 round trip) to 3,900m-high Ximatan - Summer: Alpine rhododendron fields | Winter: Snow-capped peaks (rent a down jacket ¥50) ✅ **10:30 Jade Belt Cloud Trail** - 4.5km gentle path (Zhonghe Temple → Qilongnv Pool) through fir forests with Erhai Lake views **Afternoon** ✅ **13:00 Qilongnv Pool** - Hidden ice waterfall in Cangshan's heart (1.5km stone steps, trekking poles recommended) ✅ **15:30 Zhonghe Temple Vegetarian Meal** - ¥20/person at this 100-year-old temple with panoramic valley views **Evening** ✅ **18:00 Return to Dali Ancient Town** - Dinner: "A Wang Home Kitchen" (braised chicken with wild herbs ¥40/person) ✅ **Stay**: "Little Yard" B&B (stargazing terrace ¥180/person) --- **🕐️ DAY 2: Wild Adventure · Qingbi Stream & Mushroom Foraging** **Morning** ✅ **8:30 Gantong Cableway** - Ascend via cableway (¥85 one-way), visit "Zhenlong Chessboard" stone carving ✅ **9:30 Qingbi Stream Canyon** - 2km riverside hike to "Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils" filming site (wear anti-slip shoes!) **Afternoon** ✅ **12:00 Mocan Stream Exploration** - Discover secluded waterfalls behind Gantong Temple (local guide required) ✅ **15:00 Mushroom Picking** - Seasonal activity (June-Sept): forage porcini & psychedelic mushrooms (NEVER eat raw!) **Evening** ✅ **18:30 Mushroom Banquet** - "Cangshan Wild Mushroom King" (matsutake chicken soup ¥80/person) ✅ **Stay**: Mountain lodge near Gantong Temple (temple bells at dawn ¥260/night) --- **🕐️ DAY 3: Cultural Heritage · Nanzhao Buddhism & Tie-Dye** **Morning** ✅ **8:00 Wuwei Temple** - 1,000-year-old royal temple, join morning chanting (donation-based) ✅ **10:00 Zhoucheng Tie-Dye** - Craft indigo scarves at Puzhen Workshop (¥120 includes tutorial) **Afternoon** ✅ **13:00 Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils Film City** - Wuxia cosplay (¥40 ticket, 14:00 "Bridal Toss" show) ✅ **15:30 Tea-Horse Road Experience** - Horseback ride (¥150/hour) on ancient trade route **Evening** ✅ **Departure Tips** - Taxi to Dali Station (~¥35), last train to Kunming at 21:12 --- ### 💗 **Essential Tips** 1. **Oxygen**: Ximatan is 3,920m high (buy oxygen ¥30 at cableway base) 2. **Weather**: "Four seasons in one day" – raincoat (July-Aug) | crampons (Nov-Feb) 3. **Cableways**: - Ximatan for summit (opens 8:30) | Gantong/Zhonghe for mid-mountain - No summit access after 15:00, closures during high winds 4. **Hidden Gems**: - **Boluo Temple Hike**: 3km wild trail from Gantong Cableway (donation-based lunch) - **Huadian Pasture**: Alpine flowers in May (local guide required) 5. **Safety**: - Avoid pinecone piles (snakes!) | Mushrooms MUST be professionally cooked - Cangshan Park closes at 17:00 – no overnight stays